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The Perth principal filmed pinning down a student while breaking up a brawl has since been reinstated thanks to parents rallying behind him.

Eaton Community College associate principal Grant Walton was suspended following the March incident but on Wednesday Education Department Director General Lisa Rodgers said he could return and receive extra training, reports News.com.au.

“As I mentioned earlier in the week, the community has really gotten behind Mr Walton – and indeed the wider teaching profession – and I look forward to seeing him back at work,” she said in a statement.

Parents and students rallied around the deputy school principal stood down for assaulting a student, with more than 3000 signing an online petition calling for him to be reinstated.

Mr Walton was stood down from the Perth high school amid assault allegations after he was caught on camera trying to stop a schoolyard fight.

The footage, taken by another student at school in March, shows Mr Walton tackling the 13-year-old boy and briefly pinning him to the ground before other kids surround the teacher and shout offensive things.

After Mr Walton stands up, two other students square up against the teacher and raise their fists.

When the other boy manages to stand up, he again tries to throw punches at Mr Walton.

“Let me up, I’ll kill him,” the boy can be heard saying.

Mr Walton responds, “Get lost, go away.”

The Department of Education confirmed last week it was investigating Mr Walton for allegations he “physically assaulted a student”.

It’s understood Mr Walton rushed to the school oval after he spotted a group of current and former students fighting.

His actions were overwhelmingly praised on social media.

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  • These kids were being little shits, no respect whatsoever, I don’t think the principal used unnecessary force. I think the kids should be punished more then the principal

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  • I would have thought that was what teachers should do – stop unruly students. Pity there aren’t more of them around.

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  • He did what he had to do to stop a fight and I don’t think he should have been stood down. In my opinion he did the right thing and I am glad alot of others see this too

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  • A teacher not afraid to control unruly students. He should be given a medal

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  • I’m not sure if he really needed to pin him down like that, but the community is on his side and they wouldn’t be without knowing what sort of person he is. I hope the kids learn from this.

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  • Better option than doing nothing, clearly there are some serious behavioral issues at the school.

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  • With majority of people, including the mother of the boy he assaulted, on the teachers side, I can’t see too much damage being done. I hope he gets his job back anyway

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  • His actions seem reasonable in the context of a brawl.

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  • It is obvious it was a violent brawl. Initially he told the students to break it up. It looked like one of the students didn’t only take a swing at the teacher. The teacher certainly didn’t restrain the bully for long.

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  • Thank goodness common sense has prevailed in this case.

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  • Go teacher and the mum had a sensible approach too

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  • good on him!

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  • Well Done Mr. Walton! I’m sure if something serious had happened and he had not intervened it would be said “why didn’t anyone stop this”!!

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